Ergonomics is a subject frequently overlooked in paintball but it needn't be so. A JAM Enterprises Associate has designed the new Endo Cradle to alleviate the fatigue and discomfiture associated with many paintball marker setups. The Endo Cradle is designed to put a sizeable fraction of the marker's weight on the user's shoulder, and move the tank out of the way of the trigger hand's wrist. The overall effect is a markedly reduced gun-player profile, and a longer day of balling!

Covered under U.S. Utility Patent # 7,107,981

Product is no longer produced/marketed/sold by JAM Enterprises

Product Availability

The JAM Enterprises Endo Cradle is older, so while it may be available used and in a few cases new, it is not commonly available anymore.

Shocktech, Dye, Bob Long and every other standard drop forward out there.

Marker Setup:

Angel One, Angel Speed, Angel Force 4, RatPulse and Spyder Clone

Strengths:

Very comfortable once you get used to it.

Weaknesses:

They have never been easy to find, thus difficult to purchase. EXPENSIVE!!!

Review:

It was awkward at first to use, but then after a while I got very comfortable with it. It rests perfectly on my shoulder, keeping me nice and tight and I can keep my marker and hopper lower. I can't believe no one thought of this before, very ingenious design.

I've used the original Endo and the Endo 2, and I (and most all the ballers I know) prefer the 2nd design...but they are next to impossible to find.

This cradle sports great "ergonomics" that I was not able to find with a standard duckbill or a drop forward.

I spend 90% of my time playing woodsball and scenario... by the end of the day, its hard to patrol and keep your gun up high in a ready position. That extra movement of bringing your gun up into aiming position can either blow your cover or cost you that critical second that allows your opponent to get the drop on you first.

The Endo Cradle angles your tank up and behind the gun, which allows you to rest your tank/gun on your shoulder. Since your back hand is not holding up the gun, this seriously reduces the weight of the gun as you hold it. Obviously this will reduce fatigue in your trigger arm and hand, and let you keep your gun up in a ready position for extended periods of time.

With a duck bill or even the drop forward I used to use, I had two options:

1) put the tank under my armpit - which forced my elbow out AND I still had to support the weight of the gun. With my elbow out, I was a bigger target.
2) hold the gun farther away in front of me so that the tank was not under my armpit - but this increases the strain of carrying the gun around.

With the Endo Cradle, I am now able to take the weight off my trigger hand and really wail on the trigger. It also lets me get very close to the back of the gun to sight down the barrel.

I really feel like the Endo Cradle forces me to tuck in tighter. Both of my hands are in closer now so that I can get the gun into position to aim down the barrel. I even let my "civilian" wife try it, and she was impressed too.

Conclusion:

I found that this allowed me to keep my gun up high longer so that I could sight down the barrel better.

I seriously recommend this to any woodsball player. It will keep you fresh longer during those long running games. And everybody knows that the outdoor season kicks off with some lengthy scenario games!!

I have not played speedball with it yet, but I will edit this review once I have tried it at speedball.

I was very interested in an angled drop, so I bought this item at hogan's alley in CT at a horribly inflated price. I'm embarrassed to say how much. I tried it out today, right off the batt I realized that I had a hard time sighting down the out side of the marker. I have JT pro flex goggles so my head got right up behind my bolt, actually too close because it caught me in the mask.
The tank is at such an extreme angle that if you use a 68 or 88 the tank will be significantly above your marker. I did take a tank hit during the day, but I am a marked man when I walk on my local field (every one loves to try to shoot me).
I must say that I used to take hits on the drop foward today I receive none today but in turn that one tank hit.
No screws came with it which means stripping my old drop.

For my setup a Crossfire 70 cu LP stubby works perfectly. I have never used it on another marker, but you get used to it. You may want to attach the drop to the grip as far back as possible, this gives you a little more room from the back of the marker and the top of the tank.
Works best with a closed bolt, blow back markers (the bolt may catch your mask)
P.S. everyone at the field will want to shoot it.

P.P.S. This has no place on a tourny field, but rec is fine when you don't need to play as tight as possible, this will help with the wieght of rec ball guns.

Conclusion:

I must say that by the end of the day I started to get used to the set up, but remember that I was playing rec ball (A little more forgiving that tourney play). I need to tweak the setup a little. I do not think that any product is perfect and that what 10 rating is, so don't expect it. Right now I will give this product a 7, but it is defiantly worth a look at, I imagine that the rating will improve after the tweaking is done.

At practice (playing speedball) I have not had a noticable amount of tank hits. The setup is nice for back players.

NOTE I like this setup but it is not for everyone. Very few products are perfect in this world, so 8 is very respectfull
REVISION
I no longer use this drop, I think it slows down my snap shooting

works great on my dm4 my teammate used it last tourny and loved it he had a 45/45.

Color choices minimal; Mine didn't come with screws, which I had anyway.

Review:

I bought one of these at the IAO. Price was 35, same as the site. They even game me a discount in addition for buying a couple, and buying some of their awesome bolts. The company is awesome, all the guys are super nice, and also knowledgeable. They test their products and make sure they work.

The drop itself is duckbill ready, as well as dovetail ready. I am using a ST on/off with mine. The set screw is awesome, it puts pressure on a ball of some sort, so it will not mark the on/off up. It also comes in through the side, making it even easier to use.

The bottomline holes are slotted, so you can set it further forward or backward to fit your trigger frame or comfort.

The drop is very very light, but does not wobble at all.

The setup is quite bizzarre looking, but looks are decieving. I was skeptical, and I have always hated unimount setups. The Endo (and Endo^2) have about half as many screws, and holds tighter.

Placing the tank one the shoulder allows it to be quite stable, unlike some drops (to me), but it allows the gripframe to remain close to the shooters body. A lot of weight goes on the shoulder, which helps hold the front of the marker down. If you are using an egg, nearly all the weight is on the shoulder.

In addition to being close, the shoulder mount is extremely nice for laying down, as well as switching sides of the bunker. It brings the marker to the same place each time. It will give you a slimmer profile (as a unimount), but does not make a deep profile (as a unimount creates, and drop prevents), whihc helps when someone gets an angle on you.

Conclusion:

This is the best of both worlds between a drop forward and a unimount. You've got to try one of these, unless you use CO2. Otherwise, they're amazing. Great company too. THANKS!